Chapter 9

I have no idea what to wear.

I'm in my second bedroom, turned closet and music room. Clothes are strewn everywhere, a pastel mess all over my floor.

Reclining on my desk chair, I groan at the sight before me. The car will be here to pick me up in an hour and I haven't done my eye makeup or my hair yet. Plus, I need to pack an overnight bag. We're staying in a hotel tonight after our date, for full authenticity. Frank has assured me that there are two separate rooms booked, at least.

Today, I also learned that the rumors about the studio are true. Fortune Records will be the first company to establish a work space where both Humans and Monsters will be working together. And who better to mark the grand opening than their power couple of choice. So that's later this week. God, I will have to pick an outfit for that too.

No, I have to focus on tonight. What do you even wear to a club filled with Monsters? Everything I own is colorful, and I'm worried that I will stick out like a sore thumb. Am I stereotyping by assuming that they'll all be wearing dark clothes? Ugh, maybe.

When in doubt, be yourself, Flora. Yeah, I can do that. If I could wear anything tonight, what would it be? I pick out a dress that I haven't gotten to wear yet. It's tight through my waist, with a little ruffle that starts midway down my but. It has puffy off the shoulder cap sleeves too, and it's in a gorgeous pastel floral print.

I might regret wearing these if they get ruined, but I pull out my sage green over the knee suede boots. Yes, this is fun! It's giving more my onstage persona though, but why not go for it? Flora onstage is way more confident than Flora offstage.

I'll need to pick out a cute wig too, then. I run my fingers through my long pink, wavy one. Perfect. I will do some fun makeup and then put this on properly.

Let's see if Sebastian can ignore me in this.

All in all, I end up being ready a few minutes late, the car idling outside of my building when I get downstairs.

I'm super happy with the outfit I ended up choosing. I feel fun, and I will need to bring that energy for the both of us tonight.

Sebastian is wearing black trousers and a gray button-up with the top few buttons undone. That glimpse of his chest has me nearly drooling a little, the indent between his pecs clearly visible.

He does a definite double take as I get into the car. My weekend bag is weighing me down and I stumble a little. He darts up and takes my bag from me, setting it on the floor.

"Thanks," I say, simply. I'm not expecting any kind of response, this is the best greeting I've had in a long time.

"You look different," he says, looking at my hair.

"Oh, this?" I twirl a strand around my finger. "I usually wear stuff like this onstage. It's part of my act. But you wouldn't know that, I guess…"

It's crazy how we've now spent all this time together and we still know essentially nothing about the other. I don't know anything about the type of music he makes.

We fall back into our usual silence. I notice him glancing at me more than usual though.

The car crosses the border into the Monster side of town. I've never been here before, so I can't help but look out the window. Everything looks similar enough for now, but we're definitely in the downtown area.

"Did someone prep you for this?" Sebastian's deep timbre reaches me from the other side of the car.

I shrug, "The update that I got earlier was that there would be paparazzi there to photograph us at the entrance. But that we were going to have to rely on candid shots from the public from inside to get out there."

"No, Flora," he looks at me with disapproval. "Were you prepped on how to behave at the club, or what to expect?"

I am stunned into silence, I think that's the longest sentence I've ever heard him utter. I shake my head slowly.

"You're going to be surrounded by Monsters tonight. You're going into the Lion's Den."

Well, I mean, I was nervous about going to a club full of Monsters. But I also have maybe underestimated it, judging by his demeanor. Like, it must be important if he's been talking to me this much.

"So all Monsters aren't the silent, grumpy type?" I tease.

"Can you be serious for one second, Flora?" He snaps at me, his voice edged sharp like a knife.

My lip wobbles and I blink back tears. His words sting and I feel like a scolded school child. I only try to be fun to bring up his mood a bit. Besides, I don't believe for a second that he'd actually let something happen to me. I look away, curling in on myself a little, and trying to ignore him. I'm so done with his shit right now.

A warmth appears at my side a moment later, a hand gently touching my arm.

"Hey, I'm sorry."

"Too bad," I sniffle, pushing him away. He let's go of me, but he stays close.

"Listen, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…" I turn to look at him as his mind wanders. He runs a hand through his stupid, perfect hair. I envy him that, wondering what it feels like.

"It could be dangerous, Flora." I watch his mouth as he speaks, his plush lips barely move as he practically whispers. "Stay close to me. I'll look after you."

I glance up to his eyes and get lost in them for a moment. But then, of course, he pulls away. He moves back to his original seat.

What is wrong with me? Why do I keep letting my guard down around him? I tip my head back and stare at the roof of the car until it pulls to a stop.

I know we're here by the sounds outside. Sebastian moves to get up.

"Please, don't." I tell him. "Give me a second, for once."

"Well, forgive me for wanting to get this over with." He quips back.

Great. I guess we're in the ‘snide remarks' phase of our relationship. I love this for me. Truly. Maybe going back to silence wouldn't be so bad, after all.

I close my eyes and ask for the Universe to give me some fucking strength.

I don't give him a warning, opening the door and stepping out.

Oh God, this is a lot. All manner of creature are crowded around the entrance to the club. There's a few groups smoking to the left, a line waiting for entrance to the right. There are a couple paparazzi at the door as well, already taking photos of us.

There is also not one single Human in sight. It's not that I expected there to be, but it's still jarring to experience. There are so many different types of Monsters around me, that I can't really take in any details. It's a sea of horns, pointed ears, wings, different colored skins, and tails.

A body presses up flush against my back, the familiar feeling of Sebastian's warmth. He bends over and I look up to see what he's doing. He looms closer, a predatory look in his gaze. He's not going to kiss me, is he? Fuck, I can't turn away if he does, there's photos being taken.

He bypasses my lips, his nose nuzzling my neck softly. I feel the shift in the air as he breathes in deeply. A rush of tingles flush through me from head to toe, a swarm of butterflies battling in my stomach.

The man is sniffing me… why am I so into it? He takes his time over it, too. My eyes flutter closed, but I can feel many gazes burn into me.

I'm out of place here. I'm not wanted. These people have been taught to hate me.

All this time, I've been thinking about how I'm going to help the Humans with their hatred for Monsters. I haven't really thought about it the other way around. Am I enough to make that kind of change on this side of the fence?

Sebastian slowly pulls away from me, and I feel the absence of him deep in my gut. He takes my hand, closing the car door behind us with a slam. I startle a little at the noise, and he gives my hand a comforting squeeze. He tugs me along with him to the entrance, keeping me close.

The doorman nods to Sebastian, who holds out our hands to him. Before I can freak out at the gesture, the massive green skinned man places a black ink stamp on our wrists. Oh, I giggle a little in relief, it's only an entry stamp. It's a club, Flora, relax.

The doorman, who has tusks, gestures to Sebastian where our private area is located, up on the balcony. He leads me forward again. In true club fashion, you still have to walk through a packed crowd, no matter who you are. Except no one touches me at all. They actively push at one another to avoid touching me.

The music here is kind of different too, a much heavier beat than I'm used to. I can almost feel it in my bones.

We get about half way, or at least I think so, when a willowy beauty with a beautiful flowing mini dress approaches us. Or, approaches Sebastian, I guess. She runs her fingers lightly down Sebastian's arm, a gleam in her eyes. Irrationally, I am filled with rage watching her touch him.

"I know that I can promise you a much better night than this... lousy Human."

Well, fuck her. Before I can respond or come to my own defense, Sebastian growls at her, his eyes glowing bright. Did I think he was growling before, when I heard that rumble from his chest? I was wrong. This was loud, and I heard the menace behind it.

He pushes by her, switching which hand of mine he's holding. The hand that had been holding mine grips me tight around the waist. I'm enveloped by him as he stomps the last bit of the walk to our booth. The other Monsters physically cringe away from his anger. I kind of feel protected, though?

I feel a little manhandled as he guides me to our booth and sits me down in a seat. He slides in next to me and puts an arm around me, pulling me tight against him. I'm into it, having him handle me like that, placing me where I need to be. I lightly place a hand on his thigh, trying to look cozy. I'm hyper aware that the other people here could be taking photos of us at any time.

"What do you want to drink?" He asks me.

"Umm… do you think they would have a whiskey and coke?" He looks down at me, a bewildered look on his face.

"You do know that we have the same food and drink here?" He asks, incredulously.

"Maybe…?"

He rolls his eyes at me, a slight grin tugging at his mouth. Sebastian signals to the waiter, a devil looking man with red skin and horns. He orders our drinks, asking for them to bring the unopened bottles to open in front of us.

"Why did you ask for it like that?" I ask, once the waiter has left, his pointed tail swinging behind him.

"I'm being careful," is all he says.

OK, cool. So I'm in a club filled with Monsters, and my drinks need to be opened in front of me in case I get spiked. Fun.

I'm back to receiving the silent treatment again, I realize. The waiter brings us our drinks making a big performance of opening them. I would laugh if Sebastian wasn't staring at the poor man with a lethal poise, watching intently. He takes a sip of his drink, sitting casually, and not saying a single fucking word.

God, this man drives me insane.

"Can't we just get along, please?" I trace a drip of condensation on my glass with my finger, leaving a clean line behind it. "I know that you're disgusted by me, but this would be easier if we could get along. I know you don't talk much, but—"

"You don't disgust me, Flora." He cuts across me. "Quite the opposite, really. I'm disgusted by myself."

What?! I can't even begin to decipher that. I open my mouth to speak, but he downs his drink and stands abruptly. He holds out a hand to me.

"We're going to dance now." Sebastian's voice holds no room for argument.